Island



(No Model.)

P. RICHARDSON.

HEEL PLATE FOR RUBBER BOOTS AND SHOES.

Patented Jan.2'3,1 883.

lNVENTORI WITNESSES! M 0% UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK RICHARDSON, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

HEEL-PLATE FOR RPBBER BO OTS AND SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 270,911, dated January 23, 1883, Application filed April 1, 1882. (No n odel.)

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK RICHARD- SON, of the city and county of Providence, and State of lthode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rubber Boots and Shoes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention has reference to a metallic wearing plate or tap for the heelsof rubber boots and shoes; and it consists in a metal heel plate or tap formed of a lattice-work or arrangementot' intersecting cross-barsinclosed by a rim of suitable shape, the spaces between the cross-bars being wider at the bottom than at the top and filled with rubber, substantially v as and for the purpose hereinafter particularly described, the whole being adapted to be secured to the heel portion of a rubber boot or shoe.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rubber shoe the heel of which is protected by a metal wearingsurface formed of narrow bars interlaced so as to leave openings into which rubher is pressed, so that the whole can be secured to the shoe by cementation. Fig. 2 is a view of the metallic wearing-surface. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the heel portion of a rubber shoethrough the line m. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a portion of the metal wearingsurface.

The object of this invention is to protect the heel of a rubber boot or shoe with metal, so

as to increase the durability of rubber boots and shoes, particularly the heel portion of the same.

in the drawings, A represents the rubber sole of a boot or shoe, and B a metal wearingsurface consisting of a rim and intersecting bars, which form an open lattice-work, into the spaces between the bars of which rubber is secured.

o is the rim, and d d are the bars. The rim and the bars are made tapering in section, so that the spaces between the bars form dovetailed blocks, into which rubber is pressed, which, when secured to the sole by cement, will firmly hold the latticed metal wearingsurface.

The upper edge of the bars d d may be made with a slightly-raised edge, as is shown in Figs. 3 and 4; or the upper edge may be made flush with the rubber, so that a smooth surface is presented.

The bars d (1 may be made with a knifeedge or nearly a knife-edge at the lower wearing-surface, so that the metal lattice-work can be forced into a sheet of rubber and all the spaces filled with the same. When the heel is thus prepared it is secured to the solo .by cement, by which the dovetailed rubber pieces in the lattice-work will be firmly secured to the sole, and thus the metal wearing-surface is firmly held and a durable heel secured.

The rubber filling the spaces formed by the lattice-work metal yields to the pressure in walking and prevents slipping, while the metal protects the rubber and increases the durability of the boot or shoe.

By the peculiar construction of a latticed heel-surface the interstices of which are filled with rubber a firm hold of the heel is socured, as the rubber will yield to the irregularities of the surface and-prevent slipping, while the metal protects the rubber against wear.

One peculiarity and advantage of this construction of heel consists in the anti-balling quality of this heel when used in snow, as the compressible rubber fills the spacesbetweeu the metal lattice-work. The weight of'the wearer breaks up at each step the snow that is forming on the heel by the rubber filling the spaces between the ribs yielding when the weight is exerted, and the metal ribs cut up any adhering snow. When the heel is raised the rubber in the spaces between the ribs d d acts as a plunger and forces the snow off from the metal ribs or lattice-work.

The spaces between the ribs d 01 may be made larger than here shown, so that less metal is required in the heel.

Having thus described my inven'tion,I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- A tap for the heels of rubber boots and shoes, consisting of the rim 0 and cross-bars d d, the spaces between which are wider at the bottom than at the top and are filled with rubber, the whole arranged to be secured to the heel portion of the boot or shoe, as described.

FREDERICK RICHARDSON. 

